Hansard

PE1971, on taking robust action to stop motorcycle theft, was lodged by Kenneth Clayton. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to prevent and reduce motorcycle theft by empowering the police to pursue and tactically engage thieves, and by reviewing sentencing policy to allow the courts to implement tougher punishment for those convicted of motorcycle theft, including the use of mandatory custodial sentences for those carrying weapons or groups who threaten individuals with violence. We most recently considered the petition on 21 December, when we agreed to seek information from Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Police Scotland has provided further detail on operation Soteria, which focused on tackling motorcycle theft and related antisocial behaviour across Edinburgh. Police Scotland also shared information on the work that its prevention, interventions and partnership team, in collaboration with others, is taking forward on the issue, which members will have read with interest. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service noted that there is no specific common-law offence of theft of a motorcycle but that it had used its database to identify 47 charges related to motorcycle theft over the past five years. Interestingly, it also noted that 32 per cent of the relevant police reports originated from the Edinburgh area, where operation Soteria was in place. The Scottish Police Authority’s response mentions that recent reports highlight an overall increase in vehicle crime but that that is not specifically attributed to motorcycle theft. The SPA also noted that, in the past year, more than 1,800 motorcycle riders have been stopped in order to engage, educate and encourage what are described as appropriate attitudes and behaviours on the road. Do members have any comments or suggestions for action?